Man City drop major ‘hint’ on Gabriel Jesus transfer amid Erling Haaland’s shirt number decision

Arsenal’s pursuit of Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus continues to dominate headlines.

The Gunners need to sign at least one centre-forward in the summer transfer window after allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona back in January whilst Alexandre Lacazette is set to rejoin Lyon on a free transfer at the end of the month. Jesus is one name on the north London club’s shortlist of profiles, football.london understands and technical director Edu has also held talks with the player’s entourage in recent months.

However, there are a number of other clubs said to be interested in bringing Jesus, with the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid all reportedly keen to sign the Brazilian international in the coming months. Now, Jesus’ parent club City have dropped a major hint that the 25-year-old will indeed be departing the Etihad Stadium soon.

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Pep Guardiola’s side finally unveiled Norwegian frontman Erling Haaland as their newest recruit and their club statement revealed that the former Borussia Dortmund star is yet to be handed a shirt number for the Citizens. “Haaland shirts will be made available once his squad number is confirmed in due course”, read the article on the club’s official website.

This makes it seem increasingly likely that Haaland will be donning a number that is currently occupied by a City player, otherwise the club would have surely handed him one of the vacant jerseys at the club. Considering the 21-year-old wore the number nine shirt for Dortmund, it has led many to believe that he will do so with the reigning Premier League champions.

However, that number is occupied by none other than the aforementioned Jesus, meaning that the Manchester-based club may have inadvertently hinted that the former Palmeiras striker will indeed be leaving this summer. Whether or not he joins Mikel Arteta’s men still remains to be seen.